February 4, 2026 Update: Since this post was published, Congress has passed the final federal appropriations minibus for FY 2026, including the Labor–Health and Human Services–Education bill.
Illinois enters 2026 at a pivotal moment for arts education policy — and last week’s federal budget news makes that clearer than ever.
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee released the text of a “minibus” funding bill combining Defense, Labor–HHS–Education, and Transportation–HUD, and passed the bill, with final Senate action anticipated before the January 30 deadline. In a political environment marked by volatility and uncertainty, this bill represents a rare piece of good news for education.
The legislation allocates $79 billion for the U.S. Department of Education, includes modest increases for Title I and IDEA, and level-funds most other K–12 programs. Just as importantly, it requires the Department to release state grant funding on time — July 1 for FY 2026 and October 1 for advance FY 2027 — directly addressing last year’s delays that created disruption across states and districts.
The bill also takes significant steps to prevent a repeat of last year’s funding crisis and to protect the Department of Education’s role as the primary steward of federal education programs. New language limits the transfer of funds and administrative authority to other federal agencies without explicit Congressional approval and raises serious concerns about fragmenting education programs across departments that lack the expertise, relationships, and infrastructure to manage them effectively.
As Senator Patty Murray noted, the goal is to prevent funding from being “withheld and creating chaos for students, teachers, and families.”
In today’s political environment, this is a best-case scenario. It is also a reminder of how fragile federal support for education has become.
The Arts Education Alliance has updated its national advocacy campaign urging Congress to pass this bill and keep education programs anchored at the Department of Education. We encourage Illinois arts educators to participate and share the call to action widely.
Why This Matters for Illinois
Federal stability — even when limited — gives states the room they need to lead.
Across the recent State of the Sector 2026 webinar, one message came through clearly: federal instability is no longer a short-term disruption. It is the new operating environment. Shifting priorities, politicized funding decisions, and administrative uncertainty are placing greater responsibility on states to protect and advance arts learning.
For Illinois, that challenge is also an opportunity.
Progress on the ESSA Arts Indicator
One of the most encouraging developments is the growing momentum around reimagining Illinois’ ESSA Arts Indicator. On January 22, Arts Alliance Illinois and statewide partners met with the Illinois State Board of Education to advance planning for the next phase of school-level arts data collection, with implementation anticipated as early as this summer. This work represents a critical step toward building a stronger, more consistent picture of arts education access and participation across the state.
Working in partnership with ISBE, districts, and statewide partners, Illinois is exploring how arts education data can move beyond basic compliance toward meaningful accountability. The goal is not simply to count programs, but to:
- Improve data quality and consistency
- Align reporting with continuous improvement
- Make arts education visible within school performance systems
This work is technical, but its implications are profound. When arts learning shows up clearly in state accountability systems, it becomes harder to marginalize — and easier to defend. As this initiative moves from design to implementation, we anticipate inviting arts educators, school leaders, and professional associations to participate more formally later this year — helping shape the data elements, professional learning supports, and continuous improvement strategies that will define the next generation of arts education accountability in Illinois.
Diploma Seal: Linking Arts Learning to Student Futures
Illinois’ Diploma Seal initiative continues to emerge as a promising bridge between arts education and student pathways.
Rather than treating arts as an enrichment add-on, the Seal reframes creative learning as evidence of college readiness, career preparation, and applied skills. This aligns directly with workforce and postsecondary conversations now shaping state education policy.
For arts educators, this represents a strategic opening: the arts are no longer peripheral to career readiness. They are central to it.
Budget Advocacy: Stability Is Now the Priority
The webinar underscored a sobering reality: volatility, not scarcity, is now the greatest threat.
Illinois’ arts education ecosystem depends on predictable, multi-year investments. This includes:
- Sustaining and growing the Illinois Arts Council budget
- Protecting K–12 professional development and grant programs
- Ensuring arts education remains visible in state education appropriations
As federal funding becomes less reliable, state budgets are increasingly the primary line of defense for arts learning.
Take Action: Investing in Illinois’ Creative Future
That’s why Arts Alliance is leading a campaign calling for a 20% increase to the IAC budget this upcoming budget season. This increase would help meet increased demand for arts education funding via the IAC’s Creative Learning Grants for Schools. Take action today by contacting Governor Pritzker and your state legislators in support of a 20% funding increase for the IAC.
Building Political Infrastructure: The Creative Caucus
One of the most important long-term developments is the continued growth of the bipartisan Illinois Creative Caucus.
For the first time, Illinois now has a formal legislative home for arts, culture, and creative workforce issues. This provides:
- Dedicated legislative champions
- A platform for proactive policy development
- A sustained presence beyond single budget cycles
Political infrastructure matters. This caucus is how arts education moves from being defended reactively to being advanced strategically.
What Arts Educators Can Do Now
This moment rewards engagement.
Arts educators can help shape the next phase of Illinois arts education policy by:
- Participating in Capitol Day (April 15 & 16) and legislative visits
- Sharing data and student stories that demonstrate impact
- Engaging administrators and school boards on planning, data sharing, professional development, accountability, and student pathways
- Supporting federal advocacy efforts that protect education infrastructure
Policy is now shaping the future of arts learning as much as pedagogy.
The good news: Illinois has momentum, infrastructure, and growing bipartisan support. The work ahead is about converting that momentum into durable systems that protect arts education for the long term.
If we succeed, the next generation of students will not have to argue for the arts as we must. They will inherit a system where creative learning is already embedded, valued, and protected.